Florida Insurance Council - Covering Florida Since 1962
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The Senate Appropriations Committee approved SB 800, the medication synchronization bill, on April 20, 2017 with one amendment. The bill has now cleared all its committees and will be heard on the Senate floor when set by the Rules Committee. The House companion bill, HB 1191 , is virtually…
By: Sam Miller, FIC ConsultantSB 102 Payment of Health Care Claims — by Steube321438H 579 (c1) The Senate Rules Committee on April 19 passed and cleared for the full Senate legislation banning retroactive denial of health insurance claims once authorization is given to doctors. The Florida Insurance Council has been warning that responsible policyholders would…
By: Sam Miller, FIC ConsultantSB 182 Consumer Protection from Nonmedical Changes to Prescription Drug Formularies (Mayfield) Legislation (CS/CS/SB 182) freezing prescription drug formularies during the 12-month contract year won easy approval in the Senate Rules Committee April 19 and will now go to the full Senate at the discretion of Senate Leadership. Forty doctor and…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel A bill requiring the state group health insurance program to implement cost-saving prescription drug formulary management techniques is poised for a House vote. The vote could come as soon as April 20, 2017. The bill, HB 993, requires the Department of Management Services to implement prescription drug formulary…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel HB 577, a bill designed to update regulation of discount medical plan organizations (DMPOs) was heard on the House floor on April 19, 2017. The House can vote on the bill the next time they are in Session, April 20, 2017. One amendment was adopted to the bill on…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel On April 18, 2017, the Florida Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association (FLAHIGA) bill, HB 307, was heard on the House floor. It should be voted on April 20th. The Senate bill is identical to the House bill and has one committee left. The bill:• Increases the FLAHIGA…
By: Sam Miller, FIC Consultant The Florida Senate approved unanimously April 19 a package health insurers believe will allow physicians to override step therapy drug protocols at almost any time and also weaken prior authorization, both key tools in health care cost containment. The package (CS/SB 530) goes to the House, where a more limited…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The House Commerce Committee approved HB 1191, the medication synchronization bill, on April 19, 2017 with one amendment. The bill has now cleared all its committees and will be heard on the House floor when set by the Rules Committee. The Senate companion bill, SB 800, will be heard…
By: Sam Miller, FIC Consultant SB 888 Prescription Drug Price Transparency — by Bean Legislation expanding MyFloridaRx, the state Internet site allowing consumers to compare prices for prescription drugs, was approved by the Senate Health & Human Services Appropriations Committee April 18. It now goes to the Appropriations Committee and, after that, probably the full…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The House Appropriations Committee approved the House medical marijuana bill on April 18, 2017. The bill will now be heard on the House floor when set by the Rules Committee. The bill, HB 1397, does not contain any provisions relating to insurance coverage for medical marijuana. On November…